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We’re thrilled to announce that TV/movie rights to Ronie Kendig’s NIGHTSHADE of the Discarded Heroes series have been optioned by Brad Keller's production company. Steve Laube, agent for Ronie Kendig, negotiated the deal. In cooperation with Lori Twichell of Beyond the Buzz Marketing, they are looking at production options and putting together a pitch for a television series about the Discarded Heroes as a military drama.

In July, I had the distinct pleasure of visiting Brad and discussing what direction he'd like to take the Discarded Heroes concept. Of course, our biggest obstacle (and the killer for nearly every TV/movie option deal) is funding. So, if you happen to have a couple of million lying around that you'd like to invest in a pro-military TV drama, CONTACT US!! LOL

Regardless of that, I am so blessed to have NIGHTSHADE picked up like this, for a producer to be interested and share the Nightshade team story with sponsors, investors, etc.

And I'm so HUGELY blessed to get to work with Lori Twichell of Beyond the Buzz Marketing in writing the initial episode ideas--of course, she'll be teaching me how to do this. LOL

Hey, everyone! I have a treat this week for you--I'm giving away a copy of Havah: The Story of Eve by the amazing Tosca Lee. If you love beautiful and masterful literary-flared fiction, you'll love Tosca's writing.

About HAVAH:She knew this earth when it was perfect—like her, for a time. Made by God in a manner like no other, she lived in utter peace without flaw in paradise until one fateful decision changed everything. Now, all humanity suffers for her mistake. But what did it feel like then to first sin and be exiled, to see all innocence crumble so vividly, and a strange new world take its place? Experience the epic dawn of mankind through the eyes and heart of Eve—the woman first known as Havah.

Reviews for HAVAH as listed on the B&H site: "A passionate and riveting story of the Bible's first woman. Lee's superior storytelling will have readers weeping for all that Havah forfeited by a single damning choice."~~Publishers Weekly, starred review

"Once every few years, I come across a book of such scope, such beauty, that it defies description. Havah is a novel with boundless imagination."~~Eric Wilson, New York Times best-selling author

"Tosca Lee has breathed new life into the story we thought we all knew so well."~~FictionAddict.com

The Trailer:

About TOSCA:Tosca Lee is the author of the critically acclaimed Demon: A Memoir, a ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year silver award winner and 2008 Christy award finalist. She earned her degree in English from Smith College, is an international consultant, and was first runner-up to Mrs. United States.

LEAVE A COMMENT to win a copy of HAVAH! Winner will be drawn on my daughter's birthday, August 23rd! Be sure to leave an email address!

PURCHASE HAVAH:

Many thanks to Julie Gwinn and B&H Publishing Group for providing a review copy of HAVAH.

Each year in September, the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) holds its annual conference. And each year, the location is different, which is one thing I'm really enjoying since it enables me to visit cities I've never been to before. I joined ACFW just after the annual conference in 2004, and quickly grew jealous of the colorful discussions among the various writers on the main e-loop. I determined in my heart I wouldn't miss the next one.

First first conference was in September of 2005, and ACFW held it in Nashville. What I loved is that my first editor appointment was with WestBow/WaterBrook editor, Amanda Bostic. Ironically, it was her very first appointment as well. We were both a jumble of nerves and laughed through the whole thing. I made a friend that day, and that experience eased me through the rest of my editor/agent appointments. Funny enough, the following year, my first editor appointment was with an editor who was open to speculative fiction...and it was his first appointment too. I thought God was so kind to do that to me twice. :-D

I've attended ACFW's conference every year since, and I have ample fond memories. So, I thought it'd be fun to ask around and see what were the favorite memories or thing about attending an ACFW Conference. Here are some of the responses.

From Cara Putman, author of Stars in the Night:

I’ll never forget the ACFW conference in 2006 because it was the year I received my first contract from Heartsong Presents. There is something so humbling about receiving such a gift in front of a room of people who understand what that first contract means. It also created a bit of a roller coaster experience for me the rest of the conference, as I kept waiting for JoAnne Simmons, my editor, to come up to me and tell me they’d made a mistake. Fortunately, I’ve been blessed to write six books for her now.

((Photo of me and dear friend John Olson--he's all mischief!!))

From Colleen Coble, author of Lonestar Homecoming and The Lightkeeper's Bride:

My favorite memory is hanging out in the lobby to squeal and hug people as they come in. :-)

From Kimberley Woodhouse, author of and Welcome Home: Our Family's Journey to Extreme Joy and No Safe Haven (March 2011):

My favorite thing? Getting a hug from and being able to sit down and have a quiet conversation... with you. :)

My favorite part of ACFW is meeting up with my writing friends again. Online communication is great, but nothing beats those real time hugs and late night chats. My favorite memory was meeting Susan May Warren in 2005, and then placing second in my category in the 2009 Genesis contest.

My favorite memory of the ACFW conference will always be the first one I attended. I came with nothing and God opened a door wide. Six months later I had my first contract. Without a doubt, I owe my career to this organization and yearly gathering. ACFW is also so special to me because it's a chance to see the sweet writing friends I've made--people who get me and speak my language. And by that I mean Klingon.

Kaye Dacus, author of Menu for Romance and the Ransome Trilogy:

I'd have to say my most fun memory of an ACFW conference was being kissed by a total stranger while hanging out at a table full of romance authors at the very first national conference (and sitting directly across the table from Brandilyn Collins). The laughter and fellowship and friendship of those authors have not only stayed with me through the nine years since then, but is also why I have gone back year after year.

Lynette Sowell, author of Seaside Romance and her novella in A Riverwalk Christmas shares her favorite memory:

The infamous ACRW "hand." It was a running joke about flying body parts, and then one year, a fake hand circulated around the country along with a photo album of the hand's "adventures." What fun at conference to see all the places it had been! I wonder where it is now...

((Photo after gala of me and Agent-Man, Steve Laube))

Steeple Hill author Cheryl Wyatt, author of Steadfast Soldier, shares a few of her favorite memories:

I have so MANY! LOL. Among my favorites are:

Causing an airline pilot to flee an elevator over a disagreement between myself and another author as to the best place to hide a decomposing body.

Accidentally handing a male editor my room key instead of my business card after a pitch. Hint: don't keep both of those items next to each other in your neck badge.

Seeing Mary Connealy receive her first contract at conference.

So, as you can see...ACFW isn't all about writing. It's friends, mischief, and adventure! You game?

If you have a favorite memory or aspect of the conference, please feel free to share it! That's what ACFW is all about!

Okay, I can't resist posting this. If you've followed the blog, you know I reviewed Bob Hamer's Enemies Among Us: A Novel. His style and voice are very unique and laden with the experience that comes from being a veteran FBI undercover agent.

Bob and I have gotten to know each other a bit--and in fact, his wife read and posted a review of Dead Reckoning on Amazon. BLEW. MY. MIND! :-D So as we were looking for suspense/thriller endorsers for DIGITALIS, I immediately thought of him and another as-yet-unnamed-person.

Tonight, Bob emailed me with this blurb endorsement for DIGITALIS, which released January 2011. HUGE THANKS to Bob! You made my week!

An action-packed thrill ride from start to finish...if you liked CBS's long running hit series THE UNIT you're going to love Ronie Kendig's DIGITALIS. Enjoy the ride and the read. I only have one question...where do I sign up for Nightshade? ~~Bob Hamer, veteran FBI undercover agent and author of ENEMIES AMONG US

FREE!!! Don't you love that word? I certainly do! And here's your chance to get a FREE copy of NIGHTSHADE, Discarded Heroes #1!

The Christian Manifesto will interview me next week, and in preparation for that interview, they are giving away FIVE COPIES of NIGHTSHADE! All you have to do is enter to win by providing them with one question you'd like to ask me. Check it out and enter to win a copy!

Here's the blurb for NIGHTSHADE:Soldiers all across the globe are returning home to their families after brutal tours of duty. They are discharged from the service. . .and on their own. Meet Max Jacobs, one of these discarded heroes, as he faces a wall of failure—in his career, his friendships, and his marriage. Failing again—this time to end his life—he is offered a thread of hope. Are covert government operations the answer for him, or will they only bring more danger and dissension upon his broken family?